Stroll the streets of Dublin and feel the electricity – the city is a compelling mix of history, culture, traditional pubs, elegant architecture, great shopping and dining. Historic Dublin is a great place to start when you visit Ireland, and it is a compact city, so many of the highlights are within walking distance and easy to explore on foot. See the Bank of Ireland, built in the 18th century to house the Parliament. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, originally built in 450 AD, then rebuilt in 1191, is still the largest church in Ireland. Head to Trinity College on tour packages to Ireland to see the Book of Kells, a 9th century version of the Christian gospels.
When you explore Ireland, there is so much to see and experience – make sure you take in the finest the “Emerald Isle” has to offer. When deciding what to see in Ireland, group travel is an excellent option, to make the most of your time as you discover a culture that has taken thousands of years to develop.
Rock of Cashel
A bus tour of Ireland is a great way to visit the Rock of Cashel – a cluster of historic ruins on a towering hilltop 200 feet above the surrounding plains. Take the short Bishop’s Walk from the town to the Rock, which dates back to the 4th Century. Continue to Cobh, a pretty seaside town set on a hill above a harbor, the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912. Cobh was the departure point for over 2.5 million emigrating Irish, with the majority traveling to the US. On escorted tours to Ireland, learn their full story at the Cobh Heritage Center.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle – just the name evokes the magic of Ireland. This is one of the country’s oldest and most historic castles, and you can choose to climb the 125 steps of the spiral staircase, and perhaps kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” (the Blarney Stone), and as the tradition says, acquire the “Gift of the Gab.” A tour to Ireland visits Muckross House & Gardens in the Killarney National Park, an elaborately restored Victoria mansion. Be sure to stroll through the colorful sculpted gardens.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry (or Iveragh Peninsula) is one of Europe’s most scenic drives, offering spectacular views of lakes and rivers during coach tours in Ireland. The Peninsula has some of the finest beaches in Europe, and a landscape carved by the last ice age. The panoramic vistas of Moll’s Gap and Lady’s View are famous scenic points during a tour to Ireland.
Bunratty Castle
At Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, see one of the most complete and authentic medieval fortresses during your travel in Ireland. Built in 1425, the castle was restored in 1954 to its former splendor, and contains 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries and works of art that capture the mood of those times. On a bus tour of Ireland, wander the castle to feel what it would be like to live there in medieval times. Heading through the scenic Burren area, stop to view the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, standing 700 feet tall and 5 miles long. With incredible views of the Atlantic, these are the most famous cliffs of Ireland, most recently seen on film in “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.”
Giant’s Causeway
While you visit Ireland, a scenic excursion to the North Channel of the Irish Sea offers stunning scenery. You can explore “The Giant’s Causeway” on coach tours in Northern Ireland – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with rock formations made up of over 40,000 hexagonal columns. Their origin ranges from the geological explanation to the Irish legend of the giant Finn McCool and his battle with a rival Scottish giant.
Titanic Belfast
Visit the Titanic Belfast visitor experience during Northern Ireland tours, to see where the doomed liner was built. 2012 marks 100 years since she sank, and you can see full-scale reconstructions, learn about the construction process, and her infamous maiden voyage. Learn about the discovery of the wreck, and experience a live undersea exploration center. On tour packages to Ireland, take a panoramic motor coach tour of Belfast, taking in sights like the impressive Parliament buildings, and the murals of Falls road, which depict the religious-political strife of the 20th century.
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